Leader of the House of Lords

Hereditary Peers: By-elections

lord rennard: To ask the Leader of the House what assessment she has made of whether there has been any reduction in the capacity of the House to scrutinise the policies of Her Majesty’s Government caused by the suspension of by-elections for hereditary peers until 8 September; and what consideration she has given to extending that suspension to limit the size of the House and reduce costs.

baroness evans of bowes park: The House has agreed to a number of temporary changes to its usual working practices and procedures in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. One of these changes was to delay any by-elections under Standing Order 10 until at least Tuesday 8 September. Without this delay a by-election would have had to be held before 26 June owing to a retirement.In practical terms it is possible to put the arrangements in place for by-elections to be held in a way that reflects our current circumstances and ways of working. So a further extension is not necessary.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria they use to appoint members to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies.

lord callanan: SAGE is not a membership body. The participants of SAGE depend on the nature of the emergency. There are roughly 20 scientists at each meeting, but they will not be the same people at every meeting. Expert participation varies depending on the subjects being discussed. The Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Medical Officer will decide who or what expertise is needed for each meeting, typically drawing from leading experts from within government and from the fields of academia and industry. As SAGE responds to emergencies the capacity for participants to respond quickly is also a factor.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Europe: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other governments in Europe about the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is leading with partners and allies to: support an effective and co-ordinated global health response led by the World Health Organisation, reinforce the resilience of vulnerable countries, pursue a vaccine, support the global economy, and enable travelling nationals to return home where necessary. The UK is working together with international partners to achieve these objectives, including with the G7, G20 and European countries, and with the UN and other multilateral institutions, in order to galvanise a stronger global effort. The Prime Minister last spoke to the UN Secretary-General on 20 March and officials in Geneva and New York, are in regular contact with the UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes on their contributions to the crisis response. The Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and other Cabinet Ministers are speaking regularly to their counterparts in Europe to discuss domestic and international actions.

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

baroness anelay of st johns: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia on 17 May.

baroness sugg: To mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) government buildings across the UK and, where locally appropriate, our overseas missions will fly the Rainbow flag. The theme of IDAHOBIT 2020 is "breaking the silence". One of the core objectives of our human rights work is increased respect and equality for all members of society. The British Government is proud to promote LGBT rights worldwide through our global network and our global leadership position. We work through existing international mechanisms and institutions to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against LGBT people and to address discriminatory laws.As with each year we plan to mark the day on social media, celebrating how far we've come and noting the challenges we still have to face.

Yemen: Baha'i Faith

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations, if any, they have made to President Mahdi al Mashat that the pardon for Hamed bin Haydara and five other Yemeni Baha'i, and their release from jail, be expedited.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are monitoring the case of Hamed bin Haydara closely. On 25 March the Houthis announced that they would release Mr Haydara and his fellow wrongfully detained Baha'i, but we have seen no further action since then. The Minister for the Middle East and North Africa made public our concerns on 22 April, urging the Houthis to release all political prisoners without delay. We strongly condemn the death sentence and the continued persecution of the Baha'i in Yemen for their religious beliefs. We meet often with the Baha'i representatives in London who keep us updated on the situation.

Saudi Arabia: Migrant Workers

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Saudi Arabia’s decision to deport 30,000 Ethiopian migrant workers, including some who are suspected of suffering from COVID-19.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of these reports of deportations and are concerned at reports of COVID-19 amongst returned migrant workers in quarantine centres in Ethiopia. We are monitoring the situation closely.It is important that we work collectively to respond to the unprecedented threat of COVID-19 to limit the spread of the virus and to mitigate its negative impacts. Under the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, we have committed to cooperation in facilitating the safe and dignified return and readmission of migrants. We encourage all countries to consider measures to respond to this commitment in the context of COVID-19.

Iran: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Iranabout its COVID-19 policies and the (1) infection, and (2) death, rates in that country.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We routinely discuss with Iran their response to COVID-19. The UK is taking a key role in the global response to the virus. Our support is directed to help the most vulnerable across the globe, which is why we have provided up to £2m of financial aid and funding for technical expertise to UN agencies in Iran, to combat the rapid spread of the disease.

Iraq: Politics and Government

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current political situation in Iraq and the efforts of its new prime minister-designate to form a new cabinet; and whether they have offered any support to the government of Iraq to assist in that respect.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We consider it important that an Iraqi Government is in place to address the significant economic, security and health challenges Iraq faces. The UK maintains frequent engagement with Iraqi political leaders and parties. The Minister for Middle East and North Africa discussed the current situation in Iraq with the Iraqi Ambassador to London on 16 March and with Foreign Minister Hakim on 1 April. The Iraqi Parliament is due to vote on 6 May the proposed Iraqi Government under Prime Minister designate Mustafa Khademi.

Ukraine: Peace Negotiations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in ensuring a sustainable peace plan in Ukraine; and what discussions they have had with the government of Russia about European security, including regional arms control.

baroness sugg: The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensuring the people of Ukraine are able to define their own future. We welcome President Zelensky's clear commitment to ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian people deserve peace. We have been clear on the importance of finding a diplomatic solution and continue to support the Minsk agreements and the work of Germany and France within the Normandy Format. We welcomed the withdrawal of forces in three zones last year. Since the December Normandy Format summit, there have been two limited prisoner exchanges, but there has been little progress on further disengagement or a ceasefire. The renewed commitment to a ceasefire in the 30 April telephone call between the Normandy Four Foreign Ministers was a further positive step. Continued discussions are a fundamental step in further progress towards peace.We continue to call on Russia to play its part to end the conflict by immediately ceasing its support for the separatists and fulfilling its obligations under the Minsk agreements. We have repeatedly raised with Russia the need to use its influence on the separatists to provide unrestricted access to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission and humanitarian organisations.The UK last had discussions on arms control with the Russian Federation at the meeting of the five Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) nuclear weapon states, or 'P5', which took place in London on 12-13 February. At that meeting, all five states underlined the importance of reducing nuclear risk and promoting stability, and agreed that dialogue on strategic risk reduction should continue. We also engage regularly with Russia through OSCE conventional arms control instruments and confidence building measures.

Yemen: Peace Negotiations

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in concluding a comprehensive and inclusive peace agreement in Yemen.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK welcomes the unilateral ceasefire announced by Saudi Arabia on 8 April following the call on 25 March by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for a cease to hostilities in Yemen. To ensure the success of this ceasefire, it must be underpinned by a political deal between the conflict parties. We fully support the efforts of the Secretary-General and the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths's call for all parties to engage in urgent political talks and de-escalate the conflict. Now that the Saudi unilateral ceasefire has been extended it is more important than ever that both the Houthis and the Government of Yemen seize this opportunity for progress in Yemen. A permanent ceasefire and co-operation with the UN-led political process is the best defence we have against a potentially devastating outbreak of COVID-19.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Death

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of the COVID-19 death statistics disclosed at the daily briefings.

lord bethell: All data released by the Department is robust and includes only cases officially confirmed by NHS England or the devolved administrations, following discussion with next of kin. The Government publishes daily figures on confirmed COVID-19 deaths in hospital, as that gives us the most up to date figures on a consistent basis. The vast majority of serious cases and fatalities of the virus will occur in hospital settings.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) are also publishing statistics from deaths registered in a given week, which include deaths outside hospital such as care homes. From 28 April 2020, the ONS will publish counts of deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes, based on reporting from care home operators to the Care Quality Commission. These figures will put deaths involving COVID-19 in care homes in proper context, alongside the ONS’s more comprehensive figures.

Influenza: Older People

lord pearson of rannoch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people (1) over 65, (2) over 75, and (3) over 85 years old died of influenza in England and Wales in each of the last five years.

lord bethell: The data is not held in the format requested.

NHS: Protective Clothing

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that NHS staff and key workers have personal protective equipment and suitable reserves of equipment; and when they estimate new equipment will be delivered to such workers.

lord bethell: While the United Kingdom entered the current situation with a stockpile designed to respond to a pandemic influenza and a no-deal exit from the European Union, the supply chain for personal protective equipment (PPE) was designed to accommodate delivering to 226 National Health Service trusts. We are now providing essential PPE supplies to 58,000 different providers. In response we brought in the armed forces to aid distribution and the Government published ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): personal protective equipment (PPE) plan’ on 10 April. It incorporates guidance on who needs PPE and when they need it, routes to ensure those who need it can get it at the right time and sets out actions to secure enough PPE to last through the crisis. We are working at pace to bolster the supply chain to ensure it is able to meet the high demand for PPE from the health and social care sectors.

Coronavirus: Asthma and Hay Fever

lord truscott: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bethell on6 April (HL2662), what assessment they have made of the particular vulnerability of hay fever and asthma sufferers to COVID-19.

lord bethell: At present there is insufficient evidence to determine whether there is any particular vulnerability of hay fever and asthma sufferers to COVID-19.The British Thoracic Society’s Advice for Healthcare Professionals Treating People with Asthma (adults) in relation to COVID-19 and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s COVID-19 rapid guideline: severe asthma, recommend that patients should continue taking their regular medications in line with their personalised asthma action plan. Some patients with severe asthma have been identified as being potentially extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and been placed in the shielding group.With regards to hay fever, the Global Initiative for Asthma and the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma organisation recommend that people with allergic rhinitis should continue to take their nasal corticosteroids, as prescribed by their healthcare professional.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will cite the scientific and public health evidence that they used to justify the blanket restriction on the movement of people with no underlying health conditions outside their own homes; and what consideration they gave to the alternative of introducing measures to ensure people without underlying health conditions maintained social distancing and wore personal protective equipment to prevent infection to themselves and others but were otherwise free to move as they desired.

lord bethell: The Government has published the scientific evidence supporting its action on social distancing. In the document, Potential effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on a COVID-19 epidemic in the UK 26 February 2020, the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling assessed four different response options. It outlined that social distancing for 13 weeks could reduce the peak by up to 50-60%, showing that this measure would have the largest impact than the other proposed measures in containing the outbreak. A copy of Potential effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions on a COVID-19 epidemic in the UK 26 February 2020 is attached.The Government continues to be led by the evidence in our response to COVID-19. Following the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies’ advice, we think there will be some benefit for people wearing face coverings for epidemiological reasons and for giving people confidence as we return to work.We will set out plans soon on what role face coverings may have as we look towards easing any lockdown measures.



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NHS: Voluntary Work

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have registered to volunteer for the NHS in England since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: 607,074 NHS Volunteer Responders have completed the necessary identity checks to begin helping those most vulnerable, and as of 1 May, volunteers have completed 82,385 tasks.NHS Volunteer Responders can provide a range of support, including collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone close to their home, providing telephone support to individuals at risk of loneliness as a consequence of isolation, and patient transport support.The programme is now accepting self-referrals and hon. Members are also able to refer vulnerable people to the programme to receive support from the NHS Volunteer Responders. This can be done by completing an online referral form via the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) website or by calling the RVS call centre.

Care Homes: Finance

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the financial strength of the companies in charge of the majority of elderly care homes.

baroness altmann: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are any regulations or requirements placed on owners of care homes to demonstrate financial strength; and what plans they have, if any, to place limits on the level of debt such companies may be allowed to have.

lord bethell: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the financial health of the largest and most difficult-to-replace adult social care providers through their Market Oversight Scheme. Under the scheme, they have a duty to notify local authorities if they consider that a provider’s services are likely to be disrupted because of business failure. This allows local authorities time to step in and ensure that people continue to receive the services they need. As a minimum, all providers in the Market Oversight Scheme are required to provide the CQC with financial information on a quarterly basis. However, where the CQC perceives a greater risk to continuity of care, more regular engagement is undertaken.We recognise the pressures that all parts of the sector are facing, and we have provided councils with £1.6 billion funding in March to help local authorities deal with the immediate impacts of COVID-19. On top of this, on 18 April the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced an additional £1.6 billion of funding to support local authorities delivering essential frontline services.

Care Quality Commission: Coronavirus

baroness greengross: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Care Quality Commission personnel have been dispatched to the front line during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is committed to supporting its colleagues who wish to undertake a different role to support the national effort in combatting COVID-19. As of 30 April 2020, the CQC has 101 colleagues with a formal external loan agreement. It has released 18 colleagues to the Department, 16 to NHS Improvement, one to Public Health England and one to Public Health Wales. It has released an additional 65 colleagues under local agreements to organisations including National Health Service trusts, general practitioner practices and pharmacies. In the majority of cases they are undertaking a frontline role. The CQC paused its routine inspection programme on 16 March 2020. This has freed up around 2,300 specialist advisors, who are not the CQC’s employees but can be called upon to support their inspection programme alongside clinical duties, to focus on frontline work.

Coronavirus: Death

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include care home deaths in the statistics reported at their COVID-19 daily briefings.

lord bethell: From 29 April, figures for deaths include all cases where there is a positive confirmed test for COVID-19. The figures include deaths with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in all settings, not just those in hospital, and this provides us with a single figure on an equivalent basis for the whole of the United Kingdom.These UK figures are compiled from validated data provided by each of the four nations of the UK. Figures from Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales and the Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) have always included tested cases outside hospital. Figures for England from 29 April onwards are provided by Public Health England and draw together several different data sources, including data from NHS England and NHS Improvement, to produce this broader measure.This approach allows us to compile deaths data on a daily basis using up-to-date figures across all settings.

Department for International Development

Debts: Coronavirus

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the letter published in the Financial Times on 14 April, and signed by 18 African and European leaders, which called for an immediate moratorium on all bilateral and multilateral debt payments, both public and private, until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed; and what plans they have, if any, to support thatrequest.

baroness sugg: The UK Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of low-income developing countries. During 2020, developing countries were projected to spend around $36 billion on servicing external debts to bilateral, multilateral and private sector creditors. In this time of crisis, it is vital that creditors work together to ensure that servicing debts does not prevent countries protecting their citizens and economies.The UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to a temporary suspension of debt service repayments from the poorest countries. This official sector effort could provide up to $12 billion of additional fiscal space for eligible countries until the end of the year, allowing their governments to redirect finances towards mitigating the health and economic impacts of COVID-19. This initiative provides time to assess what further assistance these countries may need.The G20 has called for the private sector creditors to participate on comparable terms and has asked the Multilateral Development Banks to explore whether there are options for them to participate, while maintaining their current credit ratings and low cost of funding which are important for supporting their client countries.

Developing Countries: Debts

the lord bishop of leeds: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other G20 leaders to extend the agreement reached on 15 April, to suspend debt payments owed by 77 of the world’s poorest countries, to include the (1) the World Bank, and (2) the African Development Bank.

baroness sugg: The UK Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the public finances of low-income developing countries. The UK, alongside the G20 and the Paris Club of official creditors, has committed to a temporary suspension of debt service repayments from the poorest countries.The UK, together with other G20 Finance Ministers, has asked the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) to explore options for them to participate in the G20 initiative, while maintaining their current credit ratings and low cost of funding which are important for supporting their client countries. The MDBs are currently conducting analysis and will report back to the G20.During 2020, developing countries were projected to spend around $13 billion on servicing external debts to multilateral creditors. In response to COVID-19, the international financial institutions (including the World Bank and African Development Bank) have made over $300 billion of finance available for developing countries over the coming 15 months.

Africa: Food Supply

the lord bishop of winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security in Africa.

baroness sugg: COVID-19 is exacerbating an already negative trend, with a high and increasing baseline of chronic food insecurity being further driven by drought, conflict, and locusts and other shocks. Immediate harvest prospects are favourable in some countries and for some commodities, but distribution is a challenge in many vulnerable areas, even at the best of times. COVID-19 related disruptions to supply chains threaten price rises at the same time as secondary impacts are dramatically reducing the purchasing power of the poor and of farmers who cannot afford inputs for the next planting season. To tackle the factors driving COVID-19 induced food insecurity, the UK is repurposing programmes in agriculture, social protection and humanitarian assistance, for example, our bilateral Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness and multilateral Global Agriculture and Food Security Program. In all of these we continue to put the poorest and most marginalised at the heart of our programmes to address the underlying causes of chronic hunger.

Africa: Food Supply

the lord bishop of winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional financial support and assistance they are providing the World Food Programme to develop an effective response to the risk of food insecurity in Africa.

baroness sugg: The UK is one of the main Government partners of the World Food Programme and the third largest Donor (in 2019 we contributed over $700 million to the Agency). We are also supporting other UN Agencies with a mandate to address the risk of food insecurity such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development and promoting synergic and coordinated programmes to maximise efficiencies and outcomes.Our support to the World Food Programme includes financial support both from the centre and at country level (in 2019 we supported World Food Programme programmes in 26 countries, 18 of which are in Africa), including on preparedness to better deal with extreme weather events, and agricultural issues. We also assist with policy steer and advocacy, as we lead on global efforts against the fall-army worm, assessments on early warning systems and climate change. Lastly, we also provide technical assistance to local production to support smallholder farmers and support cash-based transfers in humanitarian settings.

Overseas Aid: Coronavirus

the lord bishop of worcester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance and support they are providing to (1) the Chairperson of the African Union, (2) the World Health Organisation and (3) the African Union’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, in coordinating a response to, and mitigating, the economic impact of COVID-19 in Africa.

baroness sugg: Ministers and officials are in regular contact with senior World Health Organisation and African Union representatives in coordinating a response to COVID-19 in Africa.Our partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention includes technical cooperation through the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team and Public Health England, as well as a £2 million research grant through the joint DFID–Wellcome Trust Initiative on Research for Epidemic Preparedness.Under the African Union-UK strategic partnership, we are in close contact with the African Union on their plans to address the peace and security impacts of the pandemic and promote the continent’s economic recovery. This has included action alongside the Paris Club and G20 partners to respond to African Union calls for debt support.The UK has provided £75 million to the World Health Organisation to coordinate and support international efforts to end the pandemic.

Crimes of Violence: Females

baroness anelay of st johns: To ask Her Majesty's Government what work the Department for International Development is funding to ensure that safe spaces are designated for women and girls where they can report abuse without alerting perpetrators during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: The UK is deeply concerned about the surge in violence against women and girls (VAWG) during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is more important than ever to support safe spaces and services for survivors of violence. These are essential and life-saving.The UK is already the largest donor to the UN Population Fund and we have committed an additional £10 million to their COVID-19 response, which will provide services to women and girls through safe spaces. We have provided £20 million to support the UN Children’s Fund COVID-19 response, strengthening and establishing response and referral mechanisms for survivors. We are urgently reorienting existing bilateral programmes to ensure women and girls can continue to access support during the lockdown, including safe spaces. For example, in Nepal, DFID is financing safe spaces for women in nine shelters and 42 COVID-19 quarantine sites. In Uganda, DFID is supporting the Government's response to the spikes in VAWG by funding 13 shelters across the country and supporting revisions of standard operating procedures to ensure safety of frontline staff and survivors.

Rohingya: Coronavirus

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to educate and inform Rohingya refugees in the Kutupalong Camp about the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is reaching refugees with information and support to reduce rumours, myths, fear and panic about COVID-19, through the Communications with Communities Working Group. This includes a large array of methods to disseminate messages to refugees and the host community including community meetings where possible; radio, posters and leaflets, videos, loudspeakers and information service centres. Messages are being endorsed by the Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon, translated into the Rohingya language and Bangla, and are being developed in consultation with Rohingya people, including religious leaders, to ensure they are effective. Child-friendly messaging is also being used.

Rohingya: Coronavirus

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any to provide additional support to Rohingya children in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is working with partners to support and protect Rohingya children whose parents or care-givers become sick or die from COVID-19. This includes identifying temporary carers within the same camp block for children at risk of being left alone. These efforts are building on existing foster and child protection systems and will increase the number of Child Protection Volunteers within the Rohingya community in the camps. Although schools in the camps are closed, every effort will be made to get them up and running again as quickly as possible, and to ensure children return to education.

Rohingya: Humanitarian Aid

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the availability of aid workers in the Kutupalong refugee camp; and what action, if any, they are taking as a result.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Cox’s Bazar District, where the Rohingya refugee camps are located, is subject to lockdown measures to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. In addition, on World Health Organization advice, the Bangladeshi Government has instructed a reduction in humanitarian activity to an agreed list of critical (lifesaving) services. This means that fewer aid workers than normal are entering the refugee camps. For example, essential site management activities continue, but staff are reduced to 20% of their usual number. There are no education facilities open at the moment. However, critical UKAid funded services such as food and medical aid continue to be delivered to support the daily needs of refugees, including by refugee volunteers themselves. We consider this temporary reduction in staff accessing the camp a challenging, but important measure to try to prevent or at least delay the transmission of the virus in the camps. Social distancing arrangements have been put in place to prevent the possible spread of COVID-19 between humanitarian workers, and to provide medical care for those on the humanitarian frontline, coordinated by IOM. We are closely monitoring the situation, including access issues, and working with our humanitarian partners to best protect and prepare the Rohingya and host communities for an outbreak and to maintain critical services and assistance.

Rohingya: Human Trafficking

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of child trafficking and child marriage in Rohingya refugee camps; and what action, if any, they are taking as a result.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Approximately 40% of trafficking survivors in the Rohingya refugee camps are children, predominantly girls. Girls are at risk of early marriage both within the camps and through trafficking.Irregular movements are not new to Cox’s Bazar district or Bangladesh, which is on the US’ Tier 2 Watch List for Trafficking in Persons. The UK has contributed significantly to the protection sector within the humanitarian response, through partners including the International Organisation for Migration, UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Children’s Fund. Our support helps to raise awareness about the risks of trafficking and build capacity among law enforcement to prevent it. UK funding also supports efforts to identify and provide direct assistance to victims of trafficking, such as safe shelters, psycho-social support, and social workers for children.

Rohingya: Refugees

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to help the boats of Rohingya refugees that have been turned away from Bangladesh and Malaysia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are extremely concerned about the reports of hundreds of Rohingya still at sea and reports of failure to disembark vessels in distress. I have raised this with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister and with the Bangladesh High Commissioner in London. In addition, the British High Commission in Dhaka have raised this issue with the Government of Bangladesh. We continue to urge the Governments of Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia and other governments in the region to assist boats carrying Rohingya refugees to land.We are working with UN partners, including the International Organisation for Migration and UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to find out more and provide live-saving action where possible. The UN are already providing shelter and assistance to survivors from the boat which reached Bangladesh on 16 April and stand ready to help any further refugees who make it ashore. We agree with UNHCR that there is a need for greater coordination and responsibility-sharing by states to address the maritime movements of refugees and asylum-seekers in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. The UK is committed to protecting the Rohingya community, some of the world’s most vulnerable peoples.

Africa: Ventilators

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, if any, to support African countries in manufacturing ventilators.

baroness sugg: UK funding for the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF is helping them work with governments to identify requirements and ensure supplies reach those in need, including the critical medical equipment for oxygen therapy. Ventilators are one part of a wider oxygen therapy package, as illustrated in the WHO emergency global supply chain catalogue.Since mid-March, DFID’s Frontier Technologies Hub has been leading a project called COVIDaction in collaboration with the UCL Institute of Healthcare Engineering, to identify frugal innovation in a range of COVID-19 areas, which included an early focus on ventilators and oxygen therapy, designed for emerging markets that can be used globally in the fight against COVID-19. Designs used in resource constrained environments could be adapted for rapid manufacturing because they are often easier and cheaper to build and are often designed to be operated without highly specialist medical training. This initial work has fed into the UK Ventilator Challenge and has also highlighted the importance that any ventilators used or manufactured locally for low resource developing countries healthcare systems, are proven as safe and effective for use for COVID-19 patients and meet the most recent WHO specifications and relevant medical device regulatory approvals.

Migrant Camps: Females

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide support and assistance to women and girls in refugee camps, following reports that humanitarian organisations are recalling their staff to return home due to COVID-19.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Refugees are amongst the most vulnerable to the COVID 19 pandemic, with women and girls disproportionately affected. That is why the UK is pushing for greater support to women and girls across the international response.To date, the UK has committed £744 million in the international fight against COVID-19. That includes significant support to the United Nations Population Fund to address the needs of women and girls, with regards to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence (GBV).The UK is also supporting the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to provide essential services for refugees including tackling GBV and child protection, as well as emergency cash assistance to survivors and women-at-risk. Displaced women are actively involved in delivery of assistance, informing their communities about the risks of violence and providing information on prevention and protective health measures.Whilst the current crisis inevitably has had an impact on access and movement, aid workers remain very much engaged in refugee camps around the world. We are pushing to ensure humanitarian access is maintained and assistance is targeted to those most in need. Humanitarian organisations are also working through local partners on the frontlines of the response including women-led and women’s rights organisations.

Rohingya: Females

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what supportthey aregivingto Rohingya women survivors of violence, rape and torture now living in Bangladesh, given reports of an increase in violence against women and girls there.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK’s support to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the Rohingya and host communities in Cox’s Bazar since 2017 has helped more than 12,000 individuals receive GBV case management support. In the current situation, while camp operations have been limited to minimise the risk of COVID-19 exposure to refugees, protection services are still being provided. Child Protection Focal Points, GBV case workers, and the Preventing Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Network (led by the Inter-Sectoral Coordination Group) continue to play a critical role and ensure continuity despite reduced humanitarian staff presence in the camps. This includes monitoring, coordination, referral and immediate support for survivors. Anti-trafficking awareness raising is also ongoing. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the heightened risks as a result of the current restrictions and – through our partners – will monitor this closely and respond as best as possible within the constraints faced.

Humanitarian Aid: Food Supply

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help people around the world who are dependent on humanitarian assistance for food, particularly in relation to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: The UK is at the forefront of supporting those in need of humanitarian assistance and we are actively working with international partners to better track, monitor and respond to the impact of COVID-19 on food security.To date, the UK has committed £744 million to the global response. We are a key contributor to the UN Global Humanitarian Response Plan, which is helping the most vulnerable access the support they need. We have provided considerable support to the World Food Programme to secure the continuity of supply chains for essential commodities and services, and to pre-position food supplies.Through existing programmes, we also continue to work with partners to tackle acute food insecurity and malnutrition and provide food to millions of people. We are supporting the UN Food and Agriculture Office to tackle the current locust plague, including providing livestock feed and planting material for farmers already facing economic uncertainty due to COVID-19. We are also repurposing programmes to address the impact of COVID-19 on food security including to monitor food prices and stocks.

Humanitarian Aid: Minority Groups

the lord bishop of coventry: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that religious minorities in countries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic have equal access to humanitarian assistance.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK Government works to ensure that all aid reaches the most vulnerable including those from religious minorities. Vulnerable populations will experience COVID-19 outbreaks differently. COVID-19 is likely to reinforce their marginalised position in society, their experience of discrimination, violence and stigma, and further limit their access to essential support and services. For this reason, guidance was circulated across DFID highlighting that inclusion must be central to our response and the specific contexts and needs of all religious minorities should be taken into account when developing practical programmes to tackle COVID-19.

Department for Education

Universities: Coronavirus

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide additional financial support to universities during the COVID-19 pandemic; what guidance they have provided to universities about dealing with requests for refunds of fees; and what plans they have to provide compensation to universities to cover the costs of such refunds.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional financial support they plan to provide to universities to deal with increased pressures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: The government has announced a UK-wide range of support, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and various business support packages, to assist businesses whose viability is threatened by the COVID-19 outbreak. These include the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and COVID-19 Corporate Financing Facility. If they need this support, higher education providers that meet the published criteria for the loan and financing schemes should approach their bank and begin to apply for the relevant scheme.We are working closely with higher education providers and the regulator for the higher education sector in England, the Office for Students (OfS), to ensure that we maintain an up-to-date understanding of the financial risks and implications the COVID-19 outbreak is bringing to bear on the sector. The OfS has stated that one of its key priorities during the pandemic is to support the financial sustainability of the sector. Providers with concerns about their financial viability or sustainability have been encouraged to contact the OfS at the earliest opportunity.The OfS has produced guidance on practical ways in which students can complete their studies whilst ensuring quality and standards are upheld during this difficult time. Providers are already making these arrangements and we are in close contact with the sector. There are some fantastic and innovative examples of high-quality distance and online learning being delivered by institutions across the UK, and the sector is already working hard to prepare learning materials for the summer and autumn terms. Students ordinarily should not expect any fee refund if they are receiving adequate online learning and support.However, the government has made it clear that if institutions are unable to facilitate adequate online tuition then it would be unacceptable for students to be charged for any additional terms as, effectively, they would be charged twice.  Whether an individual student is entitled to a refund of their fees will depend on specific contractual arrangements between the higher education providers and the student.In the first instance, students should speak to their university. We expect student complaints and appeals processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly and sympathetically by institutions to resolve any concerns. Students who are not satisfied with their institution’s final response can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint if their institution is based in England or Wales.

Universities: Coronavirus

lord pendry: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the impact of COVID-19 on the provision of education, what discussions they have had with universities about adjusting tuition fees.

baroness berridge: Universities offering high quality tuition online will continue to charge fees. Fee loans are being paid directly to the university at the start of the third term.We are working closely with sector representative bodies to understand the impact of COVID-19 and the immediate financial implications for students and providers. It is important that students continue to receive a good standard of education.The government has made it clear that, if institutions are unable to deliver adequate online teaching, it would be unacceptable for students to be charged for any additional terms as, effectively, they would be charged twice.  Whether an individual student is entitled to a refund of their fees will depend on specific contractual arrangements between the higher education providers and the student.In the first instance, students should speak to their university. We expect student complaints and appeals processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly and sympathetically by institutions to resolve any concerns. Students who are not satisfied with their institution’s final response can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint if their institution is based in England or Wales.

Children: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that vulnerable children attend school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: As my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.Our latest guidance on supporting vulnerable children is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.Attending school is a strong protective factor for many vulnerable children and young people and educational establishments remain open for them. We are closely monitoring the attendance of vulnerable children and are encouraging attendance where that would be in their best interests. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has written to leaders of all education settings and directors of children’s services in England to encourage attendance for these children.69,000 vulnerable children were attending educational settings on Thursday 7 May, compared to 58,000 on Thursday 30 April.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has also stressed the need for schools, local authorities and social workers to maintain contact and support services for vulnerable children and young people throughout this period. Officials from the department, and re-deployed Ofsted inspection teams, are working with local authorities directly to ensure that the systems and processes for maintaining contact with vulnerable children are robust in every local authority in England. We have also issued detailed guidance for education settings on how they can support vulnerable children, including how to monitor and encourage attendance.These are rapidly developing circumstances and we will continue to keep the situation under review and to keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support families who have lost access to free school breakfasts; whether such breakfasts are provided elsewhere whilst schools are shut down; and if so, where.

baroness berridge: Alongside our national approach to supporting pupils to continue to access free school meals, we are also committed to supporting schools and children who benefit from our breakfast club programme. Our suppliers, Family Action along with Magic Breakfast, are in contact with schools on the programme, where possible, and are working closely with them to target the children most in need to continue to provide them with a healthy breakfast. Schools on the programme can choose to support target children in the way which works best for them; this may include parents collecting food parcels from open schools or breakfast food ‘drop offs’ to target families. This should be arranged alongside the school’s wider support for children on free school meals, and schools must follow Public Health England’s advice on social distancing at all times. Family Action have reported that more than 880 schools in disadvantaged areas are registered to receive breakfast deliveries from this programme during the coronavirus outbreak. These schools are located nationwide across England.

Supply Teachers: Employment Agencies

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they are working with supply teacher agencies to see that supply teachers are being supported.

baroness berridge: The department’s latest school workforce guidance on COVID-19, including financial support available to supply teachers, is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing#supply-teachers-and-other-contingent-workers.Further guidance on financial support for all education institutions is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps have been taken to support apprentices whoare unable to claim furlough pay during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), all UK employers with a PAYE scheme will be able to access support to continue paying part of the salaries of those employees who would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis. This includes apprentices.Apprentices who were on the PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 are eligible to be furloughed under the CJRS, should their employer make a claim. Those employed after this date would not be eligible.The rationale for selecting 19 March as the cut-off date is to reduce the substantial risk of fraud associated in delivering such a large-scale program at pace.Where employees, including apprentices, are not eligible for the CJRS or have been placed on unpaid leave, Universal Credit may be available as long as they meet the other conditions of entitlement.Our latest guidance on the support available for apprentices is set out below. This outlines the flexibilities we have introduced so that, where possible, apprentices can continue their learning:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-apprentices-employers-training-providers-end-point-assessment-organisations-and-external-quality-assurance-pro.We will continue to keep this guidance under review.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners' Release: Coronavirus

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pregnant women have been released from prison during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord keen of elie: On 31 March, this government announced that pregnant women and prisoners living on Mother and Baby Units will be considered for Release on Temporary licence on compassionate grounds during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of Friday 1 May, 21 pregnant women and prisoners with babies in custody have been released.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: EU Nationals

lord kirkhope of harrogate: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether EU citizensresident in the UK with pre-settled status can receive Universal Credit if otherwise eligible.

baroness stedman-scott: EU citizens with pre-settled status have the same access to benefits as they did prior to the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme. They will satisfy the right to reside element of the Habitual Residence Test and can access benefits if they are exercising a qualifying right to reside, such as a worker or self-employed person, and are habitually resident in the UK. Their eligibility is verified through the Habitual Residence Test.

Department for Work and Pensions: Staff

baroness sherlock: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many additional staff members have been (1) redeployed from other parts of the civil service, and (2) hired as new staff members, to handle increases in benefits claims. [T]

baroness stedman-scott: The Department for Work and Pensions has agreed and planned the transfer of 967 staff from Other Government Departments. 500 colleagues have been redeployed from other parts of the civil service already, with 475 of them currently still working for DWP. A further 397 redeployments are scheduled in the week of 11 May. The Department has offered 1344 posts to people who were already on waiting lists following successful interviews for positions with the department, 543 people have accepted and pre-employment checks have been completed for 377 of these. In addition, the Department is engaged in an exercise to directly recruit temporary staff on six-month contracts, many of whom are Jobcentre Plus customers recommended for these roles by their Work Coaches. So far, 1984 provisional offers of employment have been accepted, subject to background checks being completed. We have also engaged 315 agency staff with a further 350 due to start work scheduled in the week of 11 May. We have also committed to re-deploying 10,000 DWP staff to critical frontline services.

Cabinet Office

Electoral Register: British Nationals Abroad

lord wallace of saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the total number of overseas voters on the UK electoral roll was in (1) 2001, (2) 2005, (3) 2010, (4) 2015, and (5) 2017; and what is their current estimate of the total number of overseas registrations.

lord wallace of saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the current distribution of electoral registration by overseas voters broken down by constituency.

lord wallace of saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the distribution of registered overseas voters by their current country of residence.

lord wallace of saltaire: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of Electoral Registration Officers in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland, retain complete constituency electoral registers for all periods since (a) 1945, (b) 1970, and (c) 1990.

lord true: The Government does not hold data on the number of overseas voters, or their distribution by constituency or current country of residence. Electoral Registration Officers (ERO) maintain a register for their own local area, including the number of overseas electors registered in their area.In its report on the 2019 UK Parliamentary General Election, published on 21 April 2020, the Electoral Commission noted that just over 230,000 people were registered as overseas electors at the time of the general election. The Office for National Statistics also publishes electoral statistics bulletins with some information on overseas electors.The Government does not hold information on the proportion of EROs that retain complete constituency electoral registers. There is no statutory requirement for EROs to retain previous electoral registers. EROs do however currently keep registers for 15 years to enable them to check the eligibility of those applying to be overseas electors.The Government is committed to removing the 15 year limit on overseas electors and we will do so in a way that is workable for both voters and electoral administrators.

Diseases: Death

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of deaths due to medical conditions other than COVID-19 since 5 March.

lord true: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. Dear Lord Kennedy,As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what assessment has been made of the number of deaths due to medical conditions other than COVID-19 since 5 March (HL3543).The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. The most recent figures published are for deaths registered in 2018[1], however we do publish provisional weekly deaths registrations, which are currently published for deaths registered up to 24 April 2020[2]. We have also published an article which contains detailed analysis of all deaths that occurred in England and Wales between 1 and 31 March 2020, registered up to 6 April 2020[3]. This includes data on underlying causes of death. Detailed analysis of all deaths that occurred in England and Wales between 1 and 30 April 2020 is due to be published in mid-May.National Records Scotland (NRS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for publishing the number of deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.Cause of death is defined using the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th edition (ICD-10). Deaths caused by COVID-19 are identified by the ICD-10 codes U07.1 and U07.2.Table 1 below provides the number of deaths by whether the underlying cause was COVID-19 or another medical condition, for deaths that occurred in England and Wales between 1 and 31 March 2020 registered up to 6 April 2020.Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond Table 1: Number of deaths occurring in March 2020, where the underlying cause of death was COVID-19 or other causes, England and Wales[4][5][6]Underlying cause of deathNumber of deathsCOVID-193,372All other causes43,986Total47,358Source: Office for National Statistics[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsregisteredinenglandandwalesseriesdrreferencetables[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending24april2020[3]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19englandandwales/deathsoccurringinmarch2020[4] Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes. Codes used for COVID-19 are U07.1 and U07.2.[5] Figures are for deaths that occurred between 1 and 31 March 2020 in England and Wales and were registered by 6 April 2020.[6] More detail on the number of deaths broken down by leading cause groups (other than COVID-19) can be found in Table 1 of the dataset published alongside the article on Deaths involving COVID-19, England and Wales: March 2020.

Death: Coronavirus

lord dobbs: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish a breakdown of the number of peoplein the UK who have died of COVID-19 (1) as a contributory, and (2) as the main, cause of death since 23 March.

lord true: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond. Dear Lord Dobbs,As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what plans there are to publish a breakdown of the number of people in the UK who have died of COVID-19 (1) as a contributory, and (2) as the main, cause of death since 23 March (HL3769).The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for publishing mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. The most recent year for which mortality statistics are available is 2018[1], however we do publish provisional statistics for weekly deaths registrations, which are currently published for deaths registered up to 24 April 2020[2]. National Records Scotland (NRS) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for publishing the number of deaths registered in Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively.The most up-to-date figures on the number of deaths registered in England and Wales involving COVID-19 as a contributory cause of death are available in the weekly deaths bulletin[3] and accompanying dataset[4]. These data provide provisional numbers for deaths where COVID-19 or suspected COVID-19 was mentioned anywhere on the death certificate. These data are released every Tuesday.A breakdown of the number of deaths in England and Wales where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death was published in a separate article[5] and accompanying dataset[6] on deaths involving COVID-19 that occurred in March 2020.These data include the number of deaths where the underlying cause of death was COVID-19, that occurred between 1 March and 31 March, registered up to 6 April 2020 in England and Wales. Figures for April will be published in mid-May.NRS publish weekly statistics[7] on the number of deaths in Scotland where COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death, or where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The latest data available are for deaths registered up to the week ending 26 April 2020. NRS are also planning to release a detailed monthly report on COVID-19 deaths in the upcoming weeks.NISRA publish provisional weekly deaths statistics[8] for Northern Ireland which have now been extended to include data on deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The latest data available are for deaths registered up to the week ending 24 April 2020.Yours sincerely,Professor Sir Ian Diamond[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsregisteredinenglandandwalesseriesdrreferencetables[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/weekending24april2020[3]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsregisteredweeklyinenglandandwalesprovisional/latest[4]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/weeklyprovisionalfiguresondeathsregisteredinenglandandwales[5]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsinvolvingcovid19englandandwales/deathsoccurringinmarch2020[6]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsinvolvingcovid19englandandwalesmarch2020[7]https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/covid19stats[8]https://www.nisra.gov.uk/publications/weekly-deaths

National Security Council

lord foulkes of cumnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the National Security Council (1) last met, and (2) will next meet. [T]

lord true: It is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, as well as when and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Internet: Safety

lord mcnally: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their proposed statutory duty of care to tackle online harms will address harms to public health; and when the full response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation will be published.

baroness barran: The Government published the initial response to the Online Harms White Paper consultation on 12 February 2020. This confirmed that the Government is developing legislation on online harms to establish a new duty of care on online companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. The duty of care will require companies to put appropriate systems and processes in place to deal with harmful content on their services to keep their users safe. The White Paper provided an indicative list of online harms that in-scope companies would be expected to address. That list was not exhaustive or fixed. Online harms legislation will need to be sufficiently flexible, so that it is responsive to emerging technologies and forms of harmful content and behaviour, while at the same time providing sufficient certainty to companies. The White Paper also excluded some types of harm from scope, including harm to companies and harm arising from a breach of data protection legislation or cyber-security. Further information on the duty of care will be provided in the Full Government Response to the White Paper consultation, which will be published later this year.

Internet: Safety

lord mcnally: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to publish a draft Online Harms Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny.

baroness barran: The Government is committed to making the UK the safest place to be online and we will introduce legislation when parliamentary time allows. We recognise the benefits of pre-legislative scrutiny, and a final decision about whether to publish the Bill in draft for such pre-legislative scrutiny will be taken nearer the time.

Sports: Coronavirus

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing financial support to the national governing bodies of sports whose income has been detrimentally affected by the coronavirus epidemic.

baroness barran: We recognise the impact that covid-19 is having on the sport sector, and we are continuing to engage with sporting organisations to understand how it is affecting them and provide support. Sport England, the arms-length body of government who invest in and provide a range of services to national governing bodies have been involved in these discussions.The Chancellor has already announced a host of measures to help businesses, with £330 billion worth of government backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. In addition, our national sports council, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.

*No heading*

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reconsider the role of Huawei in the development of telecommunications infrastructure in the UK.

baroness barran: The final conclusions of the Government’s Telecoms Supply Chain Review in relation to high risk vendors were announced on 28 January. High risk vendors should be excluded from those parts of the 5G and full fibre networks that are critical to security (“the core”), and their presence in the rest of the UK’s networks should be limited to 35 per cent, with further restrictions in sensitive geographic locations. The UK Government does not plan to reconsider this decision. We will be introducing the Telecoms Security Bill to implement the new security framework for our telecoms networks, including the restrictions to be applied to the presence of high risk vendors, at the earliest possible opportunity.